These Are Europe’s 2 Most Incredible Destinations For 2026 According To Expedia

As customary yearly, the Expedia Group has launched its long-awaited report on rising journey traits, and fast-rising locations vacationers ought to control.

For his or her Unpack ’26, which used each reserving information and hundreds of traveler surveys, 2 stunning European locations got here out on high, and earlier than you attempt to second-guess it, no, it isn’t a now widely-publicized Albania, a lot much less one other offbeat Greek island that’s featured.

Let’s simply say that for those who love beach-hopping or fondue with countless Alps views, you’ll positively be aligned with the journey consultants’ high picks for the 12 months forward:

Savoie, France

Voted one of many high European locations for 2026, the mountain-traversed Savoie in France is a paradise for nature lovers regardless of season.

We’re speaking rustic chalet stays, deep valleys flanked by towering, snow-capped peaks, crystalline mountain streams, and naturally, sufficient creamy Beaufort cheese to maintain you fueled in between all of the hikes.

If you happen to’re searching for a base to discover Savoie, the charming Chambéry is the perfect location: strategically positioned within the coronary heart of the French Alps, on the foot of a medieval fort, it has fairytale-like Previous City streets, world-class museums, and a plethora of conventional auberges serving mountain delicacies.

From Chambéry, you are a brief drive away from Lake Bourget, a lake bordered by spa lodges and pine forests, the quaint Beaufort, a picture-perfect village up within the Alps well-known for its rustic townscape, and the huge Parc Nationwide de la Vanoise:

Protecting a whopping 204 sq. miles, it’s speckled with glaciers, postcard lakes, and quite a few climbing trails for these eager on a bit of journey.

Greatest Time Of 12 months To Go to Savoie & How To Get There

There is not actually a ‘greatest interval’ to go to Savoie, because it all depends upon your journey preferences and what you are hoping to expertise.

For snowboarding and winter sports activities, resorts sometimes function from mid-November by early April. So far as climbing and out of doors actions go, springtime and summer time are very best because the snow may have melted within the lowlands, and most mountain paths shall be accessible.

The best solution to get to Savoie—if Chambéry is the place you are headed—is flying both into Lyon or Geneva, in Switzerland, then transferring by automotive or practice.

From Lyon, it is a quick 1.5-hour practice journey to Chambéry, whereas these touchdown in Switzerland’s westernmost metropolis, trains can take as much as 2.5 hours to make the cross-border journey.

Sardinia, Italy

House to Caribbean-like powdered-sugar white sand beaches hugged by turquoise seas, pastel-colored harbor cities courting again centuries, and rugged hinterland, Sardinia is Expedia’s second top-pick for vacationers crossing the pond in 2026.

It is probably not as widespread a summer time vacation spot as Amalfi or the more and more fashionable Sicily, however Sardinia has loads of artifical and pure wonders to maintain you busy for days, if not weeks on finish.

To the north, its aptly-named Costa Smeralda is interspersed with unruffled sandy stretches and nature parks with solely a small fraction of the crowds seen on the Italian mainland. Simply offshore, the islet-dotted Maddalena archipelago is much more peaceable, and simply accessible with boat excursions.

Elsewhere in Alghero, you may discover a beautiful walled city with robust Catalan influences, whereas Bosa, lining the fast-flowing Temo River, is characterised by its pastel-painted, skinny edifices and hilltop Malaspina Fortress.

Within the equally fascinating south of the island, Cagliari is the compact, deeply historic capital, suffering from medieval gems, Roman ruins, and straddling a picturesque Poetto Seaside.

A brief 50-minute drive from Cagliari, Chia is yet one more must-see vacation spot for seashore fanatics: extra white sands, extra teal-hue waters, plus dunes and pure lagoons. Now, for the tradition buffs on the market, you may’t miss Nora, an historic Roman archaeological web site proper by the ocean.

Greatest Time Of 12 months To Go to Sardinia & How To Get There

Sardinia is primarily a sunny vacation spot, which implies you are higher off visiting anytime between late April, when the wet season wanes and temperatures begin rising, as much as mid- and even late October.

Probably the most crowded months are July and August, although if we’re being fairly frank, Sardinia’s tourism hotspots are so unfold out, and so extremely various, chances are high you may not often ever really feel such as you’re within the midst of excessive season, whether or not you are lounging on a seashore or exploring a mountain village.

Probably the most thrilling half is that, beginning Might 20, 2026, it is possible for you to to fly nonstop from New York (JFK) to Olbia, the gateway to Costa Smeralda within the north of Sardinia.

Flights will run 4 occasions every week, and the route will stay lively all by summer time, making Sardinia a handy various sunny getaway for Individuals dreaming of Italy.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead author at Journey Off Path, has over 60+ nations underneath his belt (and presently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative tales that can have you ever packing your baggage.